I recently spoke to a couple of parents who have three boys.  Three very lively boys, who sometimes get along and sometimes don’t.  Loudly.  It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting and it can make parents feel like things are hopeless.  It makes you question if you have any idea as to what you’re doing. I know I once felt the same way.  But as my boys have grown to adulthood, I know I can honestly tell parents that yes, it will get better.

This is going to be a short blog today because I’m home with the flu.  Doug has been gone all day in meetings and is teaching a class this evening, so I’ve kinda been on my own.  Sleeping mostly, but still on my own.  But as I type this, one of my sons is making dinner for us, has washed dishes and checks in to see what I need.  Last week he babysat his brother’s foster child for which his brother paid him, even though he didn’t want to be paid.  Because that’s just what brothers do for each other.

Another son called one day to ask if they could drop in after school and volunteered to bring dinner for everyone.  My third son contacted his younger brother and volunteered to help him with his driving.  He called the other day just to see if his dad and I would meet him for lunch just to touch base.

My boys are three completely different human beings with different likes and dislikes, different lifestyles, different political and philosophical ideas.  And yet, they all believe that brothers stick together, no matter what.  My biggest concern, since I was definitely NOT their friend while they were growing up,  was that we would not be close when they were adults.  I was wrong.  While there are times when we don’t agree on things, we know we love each other and that is what drives how we treat each other.

So as I contemplate taking another quick cat nap while dinner is cooking, I’m grateful for my sons, as difficult as it was to raise them.  While not perfect, I mean, we are human after all, the result has been pretty darn good and I feel blessed to have them.  It DID get better.  Much better.